Examine Yourselves

Examine Yourselves

This is certainly a strong and necessary exhortation. We constantly hear about Jesus’ imminent coming. Those who will be along in the rapture have been busy examining themselves before God’s face. We can easily become discouraged if we do not have a living faith when we examine and test ourselves. Nevertheless, if Christ is in us and God’s Word is our guideline for being conformed to the image of Christ, we will be continually transformed into an incorruptible glory. If Christ is in us, we will not be disqualified; but we will be disqualified if we doubt.

Paul wanted the church in Corinth to know that he was not disqualified. This is something we should also be aware of in our daily walk.

Paul gives a strong testimony in Philippians 1:20: “According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.”

“But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” Gal. 6:4.

Our natural inclination is to examine the others’ works. We have more than enough to do with examining our own work to see how everything can be done more perfectly to God’s glory. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Cor. 5:10.

Let us examine ourselves in the light of all the virtues of Christ. In Galatians 1:10 Paul says, “For if I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” These are strong words, but that is how Paul lived. He sought neither honor nor gain; he left it up to God to give that to him. May we, as Jesus’ true followers, take up our cross daily and deny ourselves.

Let us examine and test ourselves, because the time we have left is short.